Scotland rejects independence

That’s not as close as some expected, but probably close enough to induce more pandering to the Scots in order to avoid a different result in a future referendum.

I would like to have seen Scotland vote to go it alone for the reasons stated here. At the same time, I wouldn’t have minded a resounding defeat of the referendum. A close vote in favor of maintaining the Union seemed like the worst outcome, and today’s vote, though not a “near death experience,” was too close for comfort.